Hanukah

Hanukah, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most beloved of the Jewishholidays. It is celebrated almost universally by all groups and factions of theJewish people.The infamous Antiochus Epiphanes issued decrees forbidding the Jews toobserve the laws of the Torah and forcing them to worship the Greek idols.Matisyahu, the Hasmonean son of Yochanan the High Priest, and his sons roseto battle against the armies of Antiochus. Led by Judah the Maccabee, theyemerged victorious, despite being outnumbered. On the twenty-fifth day of themonth of Kislev, 165 B.C.E. the victorious Maccabeans reconquered Jerusalem.They found the Temple desecrated and all its sacraments defiled, except for onevessel of pure oil with the seal of the High Priest upon it. This oil was used forthe lighting of the menorah. Although there was sufficient oil to burn for oneday only, it miraculously lasted for eight days.